- Canada defeats Venezuela 1 (4) - (3) 1 to advance to the Semifinal
- The Canadians will play Argentina on July 9 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Highlights
- Jacob Shaffelburg’s quick instincts in the box put Canada up early in the match when he latched on a pass from Jonathan David and dispatched it near-post.
- Salomon Rondon responded in the second half with one of the goals of the tournament, lobbing a shot from near the halfway line into the Canadian net.
- The match would need to be decided in penalties, and Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau came up with a big save before Ismeal Kone sent is nation through to the Semifinals.
Match summary
AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas was the theater of dreams for Canada and Venezuela who were both vying for a spot in the CONMEBOL Copa América™ Semifinals. A raucous crowd welcomed both teams, who each had everything to play for. For Canada, the tournament’s only debutants, they wanted to see how far they could go in their maiden voyage into the competition. For Venezuela, they were a team that had an entire country dreaming of possibly winning the trophy for the first time.
From the get-go, the energy of the game was intense. Both teams were eager to score early and often and the pace of the match was that of a track-race.
Canada would be the first to score, doing so in the 14’. Jonathan David danced in the Venezuela penalty area before finding the late run of Jacob Shaffelburg who poked the ball past Romo on his near post.
During Canada’s first goal of the tournament against Peru, it was Shaffelburg to David, now for their second, it’s David to Shaffelburg. The winger wheeled off to his team’s bench to grab his injured teammate, Tajon Buchanan’s, jersey to celebrate. Now if Venezuela were to win, they’d have to come back to win for only the second time in their history.
On the other end of the pitch in the 16’, Yeferson Soltedlo found Salomon Rondon with a perfectly placed cross in the Canadian box, but the Venezuelan captain pushed his effort wide.
Canada’s captain Alphonso Davies had his best moment of the match so far in the 26’. Following La Vinotinto corner, the wingback received the ball, weaved past defenders and then found Shaffelburg on the fast break with a perfect through ball. The Canadian winger flew down the field before passing to a free-running Jonathan David at the top of the box. One on one with Romo, David had an excellent chance to double Canada’s lead but his effort went wide.
A breathless first half finally ended after 45’ and stoppage time with the score somehow still 1-0.
In the second, Venezuela started to throw men forward which opened up opportunities for Canada to hit on the counterattack. It was Venezuela who would equalize the match however on a counterattack.
Following a Canadian throw in the 65’, La Vinotinto defender Jon Aramburu cleared the ball back toward the center-circle. Rondon chased it down and with so many Canadians up in the attacking area for the throw, he found himself with just one defender to beat and the goalkeeper off his line. With the ball still bouncing from the clearance, Rondon hit the ball off the volley, over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net from way outside the box. Venezuela tied the match and Rondon became his country’s sole goalscoring record holder at CONMEBOL Copa América™ (7). A golazo that launched La Vinotinto right back into the match.
In the 79’ substitute Tani Oluwaseyi and David combined for a wonderful chance to give Canada back the lead. David flicked the ball over the heads of the Venezuelan defenders at the top of the box right when Oluwaseyi was making his run. The Minnesota United striker then tried a chip of his own, but his shot went just inches over the goal.
The end to end match continued until stoppage time, with both teams leaving it all out on the field. Nothing could separate the two after regular time, so it went to penalties to determine who would earn their spot in the Semifinals.
In the shootout, both teams had players by the end of each team’s 5th penalty taker, it was tied 3-3. Next up, Venezuela’s Wilker Angel shot was saved by Maxime Crepeau, and Ismael Kone then calmly stepped up for Canada and slotted home the winning penalty. The Canadians, during their CONMEBOL Copa América debut, reached the final four of the tournament. An incredible achievement for Jesse Marsch and the Concacaf nation. Deep in the heart of Texas, the Canadian’s dream of a tournament was ensured to last another match.
What’s next?
Canada is headed to East Rutherford, New Jersey to take on defending champions Argentina on July 9 in the competition’s Semifinals, while Venezuela’s journey comes to an end.
Lineups:
Canada: Crepeau; Davies, Cornelius, Bombito, Johnston; Osorio, Eustaquio; Shaffelburg, David, Laryea; Larin
Used substitutes: Millar, Oluwaseyi, Ahmed, Kone
Cards: Shaffelburg (Yellow), Cornelius (Yellow)
Coach: Jesse Marsch
Venezuela: Romo; Aramburu, Ferraresi, Osorio, Navarro; Martinez, Herrera; Bello, Casseres Jr, Soteldo; Rondon
Used substitutes: Cadiz, Savarino, Lacava, Rincon, Angel
Cards: Aramburu (Yellow)
Coach: Fernando Batista
Goals: 14’, Jacob Shaffelburg (CAN), 65’ Salomon Rondon (VEN)
Superior Player of the Match Michelob ULTRA: Jacob Schaffelburg
Referee: Wilton Sampaio (Brazil)
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas (USA)
